How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?

[Armando]

Hi everybody,
I have a few programs (like Outlook) which sometimes have multiple instances showing up in the task manager... against my will.
Are there any utility which could prevent that from happening ?
Thanks.

[majoMO]

I  tried Activate with Outlook and it worked well.

[Armando]

Hey ! That was quick. It seems to work. Thanks  a lot. 

[tomos]

Havent tried this Armando but it also sounds like what you looking for
Skrommel's SingleInstance

Allow only one instance of a program to run.

Features:
- User defined programs.
- Option to detect hidden programs.
- Won't close instances started before SingleInstance.

[Curt]

- this makes me ask if  Explorer is meant to run twice - the first one at startup, for the taskbar etcetera, and (later) the second one, for my folders (when I open them)??

[Eóin]

- this makes me ask if  Explorer is meant to run twice - the first one at startup, for the taskbar etcetera, and (later) the second one, for my folders (when I open them)??

-Curt (September 27, 2009, 01:04 PM)

That could happen if the "Launch folder windows in a separate process" option is checked under "Folder Options >> View"

[Armando]

Havent tried this Armando but it also sounds like what you looking for
Skrommel's SingleInstance

Allow only one instance of a program to run.

Features:
- User defined programs.
- Option to detect hidden programs.
- Won't close instances started before SingleInstance.

-tomos (September 27, 2009, 10:44 AM)

AH! this is exactly what I wanted. Thanks a lot Tomos ! 

[lanux128]

Skrommel is so far ahead that he makes software even before they are requested.

[Armando]

  yup.

[Curt]

- this makes me ask if  Explorer is meant to run twice

-Curt (September 27, 2009, 01:04 PM)

That could happen if the "Launch folder windows in a separate process" option is checked under "Folder Options >> View"

-Eóin (September 27, 2009, 02:21 PM)

- of course! I forgot about that option; Thanks for reminding me ;-)

[Armando]

Havent tried this Armando but it also sounds like what you looking for
Skrommel's SingleInstance

Allow only one instance of a program to run.

Features:
- User defined programs.
- Option to detect hidden programs.
- Won't close instances started before SingleInstance.

-tomos (September 27, 2009, 10:44 AM)

AH! this is exactly what I wanted. Thanks a lot Tomos ! 

-Armando (September 27, 2009, 08:36 PM)

Hmmmm... It works well, but uses a certain amount of CPU power which I'm not sure I'm willing to let go for such a small app.

[lanux128]

Hmmmm... It works well, but uses a certain amount of CPU power which I'm not sure I'm willing to let go for such a small app.

-Armando (September 28, 2009, 01:37 AM)

how much CPU usage? if possible, get the non-compiled ahk as well and compare the cpu usage.

[Armando]

Hmmmm... It works well, but uses a certain amount of CPU power which I'm not sure I'm willing to let go for such a small app.

-Armando (September 28, 2009, 01:37 AM)

how much CPU usage? if possible, get the non-compiled ahk as well and compare the cpu usage.

-lanux128 (September 28, 2009, 03:01 AM)

Thanks Lanux.
Not much, hovering between 2 and 4%, but still... My computer isn't that powerful, so any app that continuously take CPU resources is considered unfavourably... Unless it's a absolutely essential.
I'll try your suggestion. Thanks !

[majoMO]

uses a certain amount of CPU power which I'm not sure I'm willing to let go for such a small app.

-Armando (September 28, 2009, 01:37 AM)

Same here. Too CPU usage and an uneeded and wasted background CPU usage.

I'm using Activate. It does the work to me.

[Armando]

Yes... I might do some further testing with SingleInstance, but activate seems to work... until then.